The Vampire Diaries Review: Here Lies a Great Episode...

You want emotion? How about two fake funerals, as Caroline and Elena both took significant steps toward a new path in life?!? You want action? How about a high-speed chase across a bride to somewhere really dangerous, via a game of revenge-based chicken? You want shocking moments?

How about a decapitation? A murder? A declaration of love from Tyler that was immediately followed by a nearly deadly bite into Caroline's gorgeous neck?!? Oh yes. "Our Town" had it all, including tequila and cake, the touchstone of any birthday party.

Let's start with Ms. Caroline Forbes. Seriously, is there anything more depressing than watching this typically cheery cheerleader (and third grade hop scotch champion!) in a bad mood? It's just not the way she's meant to be.

And who would have thought it would take Klaus, of all people, to put a smile back on her face? To force her to admit that life is very much worth living, especially with all the "genuine beauty" a vampire has access to over the centuries? But he can't really be making a move on Caroline... can he?!? We all know Klaus has a heart, this is not some one-note villain twirling his figurative mustache and cackling into the night. Still, the especially tender side we witnessed here came somewhat out of nowhere. I say the guy has an agenda.

Don't be blinded by the diamonds, C. Or by the fact that the love of your life apparently can't really control his actions. Be strong.

From a downtrodden 18-year old to a daring 154-year old... damn, Stefan. I would NOT want to see you across from me at a poker table. We could debate forever whether or not he actually would have driven Elena over that bridge, but I don't think Stefan even knows. He's fueled by rage, and vengeance and, yes, a broken heart. He's living moment to moment, not considering any actions except those that will put the hurt to Klaus.

Stefan may act all tough. He may claim protecting Klaus' siblings is his number-one goal and that saving Elena is Damon's problem now... but I don't buy it. It's a similar form of denial that many of us have gone through when we think we've lost our soulmate, only we put on Wilson Phillips CDs (right, guys?), get drunk and try to hit on every girl that walks by. Stefan turns off (dims down?) his humanity, locks his heart up and focuses solely on blood lust. Tomato. Tomat-uh-oh.

You know it's bad when even Damon is scared. I loved the scene when he pleaded with Klaus to do whatever Stefan says. It was another sign of how much Elena means to him, sure, but it was also emblematic of how frightened Damon is by an unpredictable Stefan.

And, Elena, we can all understand where she's coming from, right? Being with Stefan felt safe and secure. Being with Damon feels rebellious and, simply, wrong. It can be tough to accept you're no longer the innocent child who sees the world in black and white. Be excited, Delena fans. That faux funeral was Elena's way of realizing that life can be complicated and so can the man she smooched last week.

Elsewhere, what do we make of Dr. Fell? And the homicide that concluded the episode? I'm not sure why the sheriff would call on Damon for a regular murder (aside from the fact that, let's face it, who would NOT want to spend as much time as possible with that guy?), but it must have something to do with the fact that Brian the Medical Examiner covered for all those vampire kills by writing "animal attack" on various death certificates.

Is it random that we've never met these people before, considering Meredith is on the Counsel and Brian apparently played a huge role in town over the years? Yes. But... whatever. It's a new mystery, and an intriguing one at that. What would The Vampire Diaries be without unexpected cliffhangers that zig when you expect the show to zag?

Quick Bites:

Hey, we found a second use for Bonnie! She can cast spells to save the day, and she can light birthday candles.

Ladies, how many of you want to drink the Klaus Kool Aid?

Somewhere, Ric Flair is expecting royalties for Stefan stealing/paraphrasing his catchphrase. To beat the villain, you've got to be the better villain.

Last week, the kiss. This week, Tyler drops the L bomb. Are you trying to make the Internet explode, Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson?!?

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He's still very much in love with her,he just think things are never going to be the same between them,even when he left town with klaus he was still protecting her and she's still the one thing that is keeping him going,the one thing that has kept him from giving up and turning his humanity off,although he thought he lost her he was still loyal to her,he didn't develop feelings for anyone,even rebekah that he dated in the 20's could not pretend to care about her.

i loved this episode. when caroline was laying on her bed dying then klaus came in and said he would save her if she wanted to be saved and when klaus was saying that there are so many wonderful things worth living for like art music and other great things.when klaus said those things i thought that was very nice of him and it showed that klaus still has a heart even though he's been so evil the last 1,000 years.after caroline asked klaus to save her and when she woke up and saw that he left her a little black bock with a silver bracelet in it it made me think that klaus isn't 100% evel.is dont think stefan was going to kill elena because if he really wanted to he wouldn't have feds her his blood and that way when they went over she would become a vampire instead of just dying and i think he did that because he still loves her and doesn't want to loose her forever.i can't wait till the next episode it looks great.

Katie•January 13, 2012 22:34

I think that the orignal doppelganger is in the coffin. I think she may be a witch and maybe a member of klaus's family. Like a baby sister who wasn't born until after the curse? Klaus mother could have been pregnant when she cursed the family and if she was born a witch she wouldn't be able to curse her. Just a theory but it could be pretty interesting.

Allison•January 13, 2012 22:02

I totally agree that Klaus has a agenda. Yeah, he has a heart but NO he does not do something for nothing. Can somebody PLEASE explain the absence of the other two siblings (Kol and Finn I hear)in the OV flashback episode explaining the start of their vampirehood? I mean, they couldn't have been born after as Klaus killed mom and dad couldn't procreate anyway because he became a vamp as well...soooo, where were they? Suuuchhhhh a good Damon line "It is right. Just not right now". Excellent! I was literally yelling at the TV during the Forwood kiss..."don't bite her! please don't bite her!"...then he did. And, I am so baffled at Stefan's behavior. Is he a Ripper? Does he have his humanity? Is he trying to make Elena hate him? Finally, great closure for Caroline and Elena...now they can move on :-)

Lauren•January 13, 2012 20:07

You know, you go into a TVD episode thinking, "whats gonna happen with Damon and Elena.. whats gonna happen with Stefan and Elena" and then you are blown away by a moment between Klaus and Caroline. Like many people have said, Caroline is always on the receiving end of amazing moments, but Klaus? Klaus surprised me last night. I am trying to figure out where the heck that came from and what it could possibly mean. I mean, we all know he has a human side, but why Caroline? I think that Klaus is so curious by the girl who would make Tyler say no to his Sired Master. Part of me thinks that he was fascinated by her for that reason. Another part of me thinks that he saw Tyler's silly charm bracelet (which obviously meant alot to Caroline) and wanted to top him, out of spite. Showing her that there really is more beauty out there, outside of Mystic Falls and high school romances. The bracelets are almost metaphoric for what he was saying to her. That she can have so much more.

I have a question. How can this show be so good? Between all the action and drama, they always make time to develope real relationships, focus on characters with deep personalities and complex problems. Amazing. Caroline is incredible. Of course Tyler loves her. Everyone loves her. Even Klaus took 10 minutes of his precious time to come and cure her. And to top that, he took 10 more minutes of his precious time to buy her the most beautiful bracelet ever and deliver it with handwritten note. How cute is that? If she doesn't wear it, I will be really really mad. Btw, I wonder if it was deliberate how Klaus' impeccable taste in jewellery made Tyler's bracelet look kind of... silly. Matt was super sweet this week. Bonnie was annoying and useless as usual. Not only she failed to open the coffin, but also gave crap to Elena and ruin Caroline's birthday/funeral in the process. Loved Damon and Alaric, nothing new about that. Stefan blew me away. Making Klaus back down? Impressive.

lia•January 13, 2012 18:53

"aside from the fact that, let's face it, who would NOT want to spend as much time as possible with that guy?" I LIKE THIS! I think the person in the coffin is the Original body of Klaus being protected by some sort of spell.

The Ultimate Gossip Girl•January 13, 2012 18:41

I am pretty sure that in the coffin lies the original Petrova. I think that Mikael used her blood for the transformation, but it could also be Esther, the original witch. Ah, the theories! We'll just have to wait and see. :) Is it me or Klaus is starting to be less of a villan? I think he does what he does because he is desperate to reunite his long lost family. And what is up with that scene between him and Caroline? Do I sense a supernatural triangle? This is getting interesting... Is it wrong to want Elena to become a vampire? It would sure be such an exciting turn of events :). I like the fact that Bonnie is getting a storyline, I love her! I am also quite upset because the writers turned one of my favourite characters in the book, Meredith, into a total BITCH! But there might be some good in it, maybe we'll have a new villan and Klaus will help our favourite characters to get rid of her. Oh, the DRAMA!

i think that the person in the coffin is either the original doppelganger or the original witch,am not so sure about the original witch coz klaus and rebeka buried her when klaus killed her,rebekah said klaus helped her to bury the original witch,i don't think the original witch will come back coz it went against the balance of nature.I heard that at some point damon will be human again,even KW said it.